Business Briefs – December 2, 2018

Microsoft Surpasses Apple as Most Valuable Public Company

NEW YORK (AP) – Microsoft has surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company. As other tech giants stumble, Microsoft’s steady resilience is paying off. Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has found stability by moving away from its flagship Windows operating system and focusing on cloud-computing services with long-term business contracts. Microsoft eclipsed Apple briefly a few times this week, but didn’t close on top until Friday.

Lawyer: Nissan Exec Arrested With Ghosn Asserts Innocence

TOKYO (AP) – An attorney for an American executive arrested in Japan on suspicion of collaborating with former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn in financial misconduct says his client is innocent. Aubrey Harwell said Friday that his client, Greg Kelly, did nothing wrong and that Kelly acted “according to the law and according to company policy.”

Trump Administration OK’s Seismic Surveys for Atlantic Drilling

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is authorizing use of seismic air guns to find oil and gas formations deep underneath the Atlantic Ocean floor. This reverses Obama administration policies and is drawing outrage from critics who say the practice can disturb or injure whales, sea turtles and other marine life. Allowing use of seismic surveys is part of President Donald Trump’s bid to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic.